Identifying Structured Data Types as Requiring Designated Initializers

1. A machine-implemented method for enforcing the use of designated initializers in structured data type initializations, comprising: determining whether a structured data type requires a designated initializer; said determining being performing by either: evaluating a structured data type definition for the presence of a syntax specifying that said structured data type requires designated initialization; or accessing an information resource comprising an indication whether said structured data type requires designated initialization; parsing an initialization of a structured variable declared to use said structured data type to determine whether said initialization employs an improper initializer that is inconsistent with said structured data type; and performing a diagnostic action if said initialization comprises an improper initializer.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein if evaluating said structured data type definition for the presence of a syntax, said structured data type is defined using a designated initializer attribute in said syntax, and wherein determining whether said structured data type requires designated initialization comprises identifying said attribute.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said designated initializer attribute is individually associated with one or more elements of said structured data type definition.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein if accessing an information resource, said information resource comprising a portion of source code that contains said initialization, or resources of a project that utilizes said source code, or a language processor that processes said source code.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further including providing the ability to selectively disable enforcement of the use of designated initializers.

6. A system for enforcing the use of designated initializers in structured data type initializations, comprising: one or more processors; a memory coupled to said one or more processors, said memory including a computer useable medium tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by said processor to perform operations, comprising: determining whether a structured data type requires a designated initializer; said determining being performing by either: evaluating a structured data type definition for the presence of a syntax specifying that said structured data type requires designated initialization; or accessing an information resource comprising an indication whether said structured data type requires designated initialization; parsing an initialization of a structured variable declared to use said structured data type to determine whether said initialization employs an improper initializer that is inconsistent with said structured data type; and performing a diagnostic action if said structured variable initialization comprises an improper initializer.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein if evaluating said structured data type definition for the presence of a syntax, said structured data type is defined using a designated initializer attribute in said syntax, and wherein determining whether said structured data type requires designated initialization comprises identifying said attribute.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said designated initializer attribute is individually associated with one or more elements of said structure data type definition.

9. A system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein if accessing an information resource, said information resource comprising a portion of source code that contains said initialization, or resources of a project that utilizes said source code, or a language processor that processes said source code.

10. A system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said operations further comprise providing the ability to selectively disable enforcement of the use of designated initializers.

11. A computer program product for enforcing the use of designated initializers in structured type declarations, comprising: one or more machine-useable non-transitory media; logic provided by said one or more media for programming a data processing platform to operate as by: determining whether a structured data type requires a designated initializer; said determining being performing by either: evaluating a structured data type definition for the presence of a syntax specifying that said structured data type requires designated initialization; or accessing an information resource comprising an indication whether said structured data type requires designated initialization; parsing an initialization of a structured variable declared to use said structured data type to determine whether said initialization employs an improper initializer that is inconsistent with said structured data type; and performing a diagnostic action if said structured variable initialization comprises an improper initializer.

12. A computer program product in accordance with claim 11 , wherein if evaluating said structured data type definition for the presence of a syntax, said structured data type is defined using a designated initializer attribute in said syntax, and wherein determining whether said structured data type requires designated initialization comprises identifying said attribute.

13. A computer program product in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said designated initializer attribute is individually associated with one or more elements of said structure data type definition.

14. A computer program product in accordance with claim 11 , wherein if accessing an information resource, said information resource comprising a portion of source code that contains said initialization, or resources of a project that utilizes said source code, or a language processor that processes said source code.

15. A computer program product in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said logic provided by said one or more media are for programming a data processing platform to further operate by providing the ability to selectively disable enforcement of the use of designated initializers.

16. A method for enforcing the use of designated initializers in structured type declarations, comprising: accessing source code comprising a definition for a structured data type; determining whether said structured data type requires designated initialization; accessing source code comprising an initialization of a structured variable conforming to said structured data type; parsing said structured variable initialization; performing a diagnostic action if said structured variable initialization comprises an improper initializer; said structured data type definition using a syntax for specifying that said structured data type requires designated initialization, and wherein determining whether said structured data type requires designated initialization comprises evaluating said syntax; said syntax including a designated initializer attribute associated with said structured data type definition or with one or more elements of said structure data type definition.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 , further including providing the ability to selectively disable enforcement of the use of designated initializers.